JOANN’S FIELD GUIDE

JEWELRY

NAME

A. INTRODUCTION

B. JEWELRY TECHNIQUES

C. TOOLS & SUPPLIES

Tools

Findings

Beads

Other Supplies

D. MEASUREMENTS

E. BIRTHSTONES

JEWELRY

IntroductionHi there! Welcome to JOANN’s Field Guide to Jewelry Making.

If you picked this up, you must be interested in making one-of-a-kind pieces to wear yourself or give as gifts. Just getting started? Lucky for you, we’ve got lots of tips!

For specific projects and inspiration, make sure to visit joann.com/projects. But if you need some basic information to get started, you’ve got the right guide in your hands. After reading through this information, you’ll be able to select the right tools and supplies for the type of jewelry you want to make and learn some techniques to get started.

If you’ve been bitten by the jewelry-making bug, check out the classes we offer at joann.com/classes.

As always, we can hardly wait to see what you make. Share with us! #handmadewithjoann

Jewelry TechniquesSimple stringing—Good for beginners, the easiest stringing projects use stretch cord and beads. String beads onto a cord, tie a knot to finish and trim off any excess. Bracelets, chokers and necklaces are simple and popular projects.

Bead weaving—Off-loom bead weaving is a technique by which seed beads are woven together into a flat fabric, a tubular rope or a three-dimensional object. A single needle and thread is used for nearly all projects, with different stitches producing pieces of distinct textures, shapes and patterns.

Bead embroidery—Bead embroidery is a kind of bead work that uses a needle and thread to stitch beads onto finished fabric, suede or leather. Usually, bead embroidery is used on clothing and decorative textiles, but it can be used on jewelry with supports like bracelet bands and leather cuffs.

Wire jewelry—Wire wrapping is one of the oldest techniques for creating handmade jewelry. Jewelry wire and wire-like findings (head pins, eye pins or various rings) are used to make components. These components are then connected to one another without soldering to create rings, pendants, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and hair jewelry.

Macramé—Learn a few simple knots — reverse lark’s head, half knots, square knots, half-hitch knots — and you can create bracelets, chokers, necklaces and other wearable art. Metal stamping—A bench block, a hammer, some dies and a piece of metal to stamp — that’s all you need to get started. Stamp on practically anything metal — a coin, spoon, a little scrap piece or small, thin bar. Metal stamping can be done on any soft metal such as brass, copper, nickel silver, pewter, aluminum, gold or silver. Create necklaces, bracelets, key fobs, place cards, bookmarks and more.

Tools & SuppliesWith some basic tools and supplies for jewelry and beading projects, you can create items that range from wildly artistic to elegantly classy and anywhere in between. No matter your style, these are some jewelry and beading tools and accessories that will help you:

TOOLS

Flush cutters—Used to trim head pins, eye pins and beading wire with a flat, even cut in tight places.

Chain-nose pliers—Used for opening and closing jump rings or for gripping wire and components in tight or difficult angles.

Curved chain nose pliers—The bent tip allows access into difficult areas without blocking your line of vision.

Flat-nose pliers—Used to hold beads and make sharp bends and right angles in soft wire. Also straightens bent wire.

Crimping pliers—Used with crimp beads or crimp tubes to secure a clasp on the end of beading wire or to keep beads in position on projects.

Wire cutters—Used to cut headpins, eyepins and jewelry stringing wire. Always put the flat side of the cutters closest to the work for a closer cut. Do not use to cut memory wire as it will ruin your cutters.

Memory wire cutters—used specifically for memory wire.

Round nose pliers—used to make simple loops and other rounded wire elements.

Ruler or tape measure

Strong adhesive, like E-6000

FINDINGS

What are jewelry findings, and why do you need them? A jewelry finding is any component that isn’t a bead, stone or stringing material. They’re the pieces that help you assemble your jewelry like rings, beads, chains, connectors and clasps. And they’re called “findings” because ages ago, jewelers had to make each piece by hand from leftover bits of metal, or “found” scraps.

Double Rings/Split Rings

Eye Pins

Rings and Connectors

Head Pins Jump Rings

Eye pins & head pins are short lengths of wire that turn beads into a dangle, while jump rings and split rings link components together.

Earring Components

Crimps and Ends

Bead cones and cord ends are used to secure and enclose the ends of strands of jewelry while Crimp findings secure ends and beads of various stringing material. Crimping pliers and/or regular pliers are used to squeeze them into place.

Fish Hook Kidney Wire Lever Back Ear Post with Nut

Crimp Beads Bead Cones Cord Ends End Crimpsand Tubes

Hoops Ear Clips

Special Findings

Bead caps reduce bead holes to prevent head pins from slipping through; end bars and spacer bars are key to the construction of multi-strand necklaces; bails help pendants and charms lie flat against the wearer.

Spacer Bars Pendant Bails End Bars Bead Caps

Chain Extensions

Clasps & Fasteners

Specialty Clasps

Spring-Rings Lobster Barrel Magnetic

Toggles S-Hooks Trailer Hitch

BEADS

Bugles—Bugle beads are thin tubular-shaped glass beads manufactured in lengths from 2 to 35 millimeters and a width of 1 to 2 millimeters. Bugle beads are threaded into jewelry and can be used to great effect in cascading style necklaces.

Chatons & Rivoli--A shape of bead that consists of two short wide cones stuck together at their bases (like a flying saucer). In other words, they are round and come to a point in front and back. They do not have holes, so to incorporate one into jewelry, you need to have a setting for it — usually a bezel setting is used.

Czech glass bead—Made in the Czech Republic, these glass beads are formed by pressing heated glass into a mold.

Crystals—A material used by adding small amounts of lead oxide to molten glass in order to change its properties. Crystal glass has a higher density and increased light refraction, creating brilliant sparkling effects when cut.

Delica (Miyuki)—A variety of seed bead that is small and perfectly cylindrical, so they easily snap into place in peyote stitch and brick stitch beadweaving. They also have large holes for their size, making it easier to pass multiple strands of thread through each bead.

Faceted—A less expensive alternative to hand-cut glass or crystal, these beads are faceted with a grinding wheel.

Flatbacks (rhinestones)—These crystals have a faceted face on one side and a flatback on the opposite side, usually with a foil backing. This acts like a mirror so the light passes through the crystal glass and is reflected from the foil backing, giving the crystal a sparkly, diamond-like appearance.

Gemstones—Semi-precious gemstone beads come in natural, enhanced, or man-made reconstructed materials. There are different shapes including smooth, chips, nuggets and irregular shaped stones.

Pearls—saltwater or freshwater cultured pearls made into beads. Natural pearls are usually pink, peach or mauve in color, while white pearls are usually an off white or creamy color. They can also come in glass.

Rondelles—A shape of bead that looks round and slightly flattened.

Rocaille/seed—Available in an array of colors, finishes and styles, they are most often used in bead weaving, loomwork, stitched bead work and as spacer beads in stringing projects. Commonly sold in size 15, smallest, to size 3, largest.

OTHER SUPPLIESBead stopper—A bead stopper is a piece of tightly coiled metal wire that resembles a spring. On each end, there are loops that you squeeze toward each other to separate the coils of the stopper, enabling you to slide in a beading wire or thread. This holds the beads securely in place while you work.

Bead organizer—Just as the name implies – a handy way to organize a collection of various beads, making it easier to work more efficiently.

Bead board—Allows you to lay out and manipulate how a finished jewelry design will look before stringing. Typically U-shaped for designing necklaces.

Bead loom—Weaving beads with a loom is a traditional Native American art form that allows you to create beautiful designs using a standard warp and weft technique.

Beading needles—Longer than standard sewing needles, beading needles are often used for off-loom work. A size 10 needle will thread seed beads. Big eye and twisted wire needles can be used for stringing beads onto thicker cords and fibers.

Reclosable Beading Bags—Keep track of any small craft supplies, particularly beads. Clear plastic bags make it easy to see what you have – and realize what you may need.

Stringing Materials

When it comes to wire, remember the smaller the number, the larger the wire. Below is a wire gauge size chart for visual reference:

10 20

12 22

14 24

16 26

18 28

Thinner wire (34-26 gauge wire = 0.16mm-0.40mm) is best used for wire knitting & wire twisting and fits through smaller beads. Medium gauge wire (24-22 gauge wire = 0.51mm-0.64mm) is good for wire crafts and general use (including wire wrapping beads and stones). Larger gauge wire (20-18 gauge = 0.81mm-1.02mm) is great for making jewelry, findings, wire wrapping beads & stones, ear wires and will fit through larger beads.

There are many other different kinds of stringing materials such as:

• Beading thread

• Stretch cord

• Monofilament

• Hemp & leather cords

• Memory wire

Projecttype Women Men Plus

sizes Kids Baby

Necklace 17”–35+” 20” 18”–36” 12”–14” 10”–12”

Choker 14”–16” 18” 17”–19” 8”–10” N/A

Bracelet 7”–7 ½” 8”–11” 8” 5 ½”–6 ½” 3 ½”–5”

Anklet 9”–9 ½” 11”–14” 10”–10 ½” 7”–8” 4”–4 ½”

Choose the type that’s best depending on the type of jewelry you’re making and the style you want to achieve. For instance, monofilament is strong with no give, but tends to become oddly shaped if finished pieces aren’t carefully stored. On the other hand, stretch cord and memory wire have elastic properties and keep their shape better. Hemp and leather cording are attractive enough to be incorporated into your jewelry designs while other kinds of stringing materials aren’t meant to be shown.

MeasurementsTake measurements before crafting pieces for others so you can be confident that the piece you create will fit perfectly. Note that necklace lengths vary greatly by style.

Necklace length(by inches)

12-13 Collar

17-19 Princess

14-16 Choker

28Opera34

20Matinee24

35+ Rope

17-19 Princess

28Opera34

FREE16154643